Counter Balanced "B" Engine
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,437
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From:
Bored to death, hence this thread.
Was thinking last nite about how Harley has different approach to minimizing engine vibration between its three main platforms. The Dyna and Touring are all rubber-mounted to the frame designs. They use the "A" engines. For the Softail models, the engine is mounted directly to the frame and the engine is counter-balanced to reduce vibration, giving us the "B" motor.
My question is why doesnt Harley counter-balance ALL the engines? Wouldnt a counter-balanced engine be even more smoother in a rubber-mounted frame?
I am not an engineer, I am just bored.
Was thinking last nite about how Harley has different approach to minimizing engine vibration between its three main platforms. The Dyna and Touring are all rubber-mounted to the frame designs. They use the "A" engines. For the Softail models, the engine is mounted directly to the frame and the engine is counter-balanced to reduce vibration, giving us the "B" motor.
My question is why doesnt Harley counter-balance ALL the engines? Wouldnt a counter-balanced engine be even more smoother in a rubber-mounted frame?
I am not an engineer, I am just bored.
Counterbalancing uses up torque, makes the engine lazier to take up revs, worsen mileage.
While surely power is not the first thing one may ha e on his mind when buying a Harley, torque and readyness to respond to throttle input in every circumstance and engine rpm usually is.
My guess is Harley webt for counterbalance on softail and touring as these traditionally are the long-range ***-haulers (not that I feel the need to change my Dyna for a Touring).
But then, as I said, it's only a guess.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
Everyone's got their thing whether it's solid or rubber mounted engines. and I like 'em both. But I can't help but wonder how well a counterbalanced motor in a non-rubber mounted Glide chassis would handle.
I mean, a counter balanced motor would eliminate the need for the rubber mounted swing arm which would be a perfect cure for speed wobble. Think of it..a Glide that could actually handle higher cornering speeds without resorting to add-on frame stiffeners, etc.
I mean, a counter balanced motor would eliminate the need for the rubber mounted swing arm which would be a perfect cure for speed wobble. Think of it..a Glide that could actually handle higher cornering speeds without resorting to add-on frame stiffeners, etc.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,095
Likes: 348
From: Ione, CA
As I mentioned before, my Hayabusa has not one, but two counterbalancers. It gets along pretty good. It's not like there's a giant piece of metal slogging around inside the engine.
I have never owned a Dyna. They look cool in a mini-size big Harley way, but foot pegs are not for me. I prefer boards with forward controls a second choice.
No matter what, the B setup is much better looking than the A. That's just a fact...
I have never owned a Dyna. They look cool in a mini-size big Harley way, but foot pegs are not for me. I prefer boards with forward controls a second choice.
No matter what, the B setup is much better looking than the A. That's just a fact...
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
Money plain and simple. Non counterbalanced motors are cheaper to produce so why install them in a platform where they are not needed. And Softails did exist without the counterbalanced motor for many years, so my question is why the counterbalancer at all?
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 3
From: West New york, NJ
Counterbalancing uses up torque, makes the engine lazier to take up revs, worsen mileage.
While surely power is not the first thing one may ha e on his mind when buying a Harley, torque and readyness to respond to throttle input in every circumstance and engine rpm usually is.
My guess is Harley webt for counterbalance on softail and touring as these traditionally are the long-range ***-haulers (not that I feel the need to change my Dyna for a Touring).
But then, as I said, it's only a guess.
While surely power is not the first thing one may ha e on his mind when buying a Harley, torque and readyness to respond to throttle input in every circumstance and engine rpm usually is.
My guess is Harley webt for counterbalance on softail and touring as these traditionally are the long-range ***-haulers (not that I feel the need to change my Dyna for a Touring).
But then, as I said, it's only a guess.
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 69
From: Al Bu Ker Key, New Mexico
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,095
Likes: 348
From: Ione, CA
Ouch! I bet doctors and etc ride touring rigs five to one over softails. Face it, softails are the direct link to the original Harleys. Shock rigs like the tourers and dynas are from that abberation -- the Duo-Glide started in the '50s -- with those ugly shock frames.
Ever see a touring bike with those plastic bags removed? Skinny swing arm off a Honda 500 and rubberized shocks that look like a Hippo's sex toy. Sorry, softails are the real Harleys, the rest are just poorly engineered copies of a '50s Triumph frame...
Ever see a touring bike with those plastic bags removed? Skinny swing arm off a Honda 500 and rubberized shocks that look like a Hippo's sex toy. Sorry, softails are the real Harleys, the rest are just poorly engineered copies of a '50s Triumph frame...
Last edited by bjewell; Feb 23, 2012 at 09:59 AM.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 3
From: West New york, NJ
Yes if that is what the Harley buyer wanted. But the counterbalance also takes up more room. It works on the softail because of the oil tank being remotely mounted. The softail frame had the room for it. It wouldn't fit on the other frames. I like my engine vibration and wouldn't want the B engine. That is why Harley listens to the buyers and doesn't do it.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 789
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
